Combat Mission

"..." Walter looked speechlessly at the Herrscher before him, momentarily at a loss for words.

Just like that, the two Herrschers silently watched each other, neither speaking first, until... Walter noticed the faint blue glow flickering on Xina's hand. "Then ask! I happen to have a few questions for you too."

"Fine. I accept the option of exchanging questions. You're the senior, so you ask first." Xina nodded slightly and gestured for Walter to go first.

"Your identity is..."

Before Walter could ask anything she might find difficult to answer, Xina directly answered the question. "A Herrscher born from the Fourth Honkai Eruption in Singapore."

"Fine..."

Walter sighed, seemingly disappointed that he had failed to pry out the true identity of the Herrscher before him, but he quickly composed himself. "You can ask your question now."

"Alright, my question is..."

Xina fell silent for a moment before asking, "Why did you, as a Herrscher, betray 'God'? After the Second Herrscher appeared, you joined humanity in hunting her down. Logically speaking... shouldn't we be the same kind?"

"'God'?!"

Hearing that familiar term, Walter's expression changed.

Just as expected, like the Second Herrscher, a complete Herrscher could communicate with the Honkai!

"Judging by your expression, it seems you've never spoken to 'God'... Then I no longer need your answer. Because I roughly understand now!" Xina calmly examined the First Herrscher before her, and even her tone carried traces of pity and disappointment.

"Don't look at me like that. You don't understand. Your 'God' is using you!"

"I know." Xina seemed to smile. She nodded and rose to her feet. Only after a long while did she let out a soft sigh and reply leisurely, "But I welcome that use wholeheartedly!"

"W-What..."

At that moment, Walter finally realized the problem. Aside from a few exceptions, nearly every apostle chosen by the Honkai harbored deep hatred for humanity. The anger and hatred in their hearts were their driving force.

"Why aren't you saying anything..."

"Mm... I suppose you wouldn't understand the days when I struggled to survive in the cracks, only to suffer constant bullying all the same. Put another way, whether it was exploitation or help! At that time, even if I had to choose ten thousand times over, I would still choose the same answer."

"Since you bear such hostility toward humanity, then..." Walter raised his right hand and aimed that strange spherical object at the Fourth Herrscher. Judging from the distorted light surrounding it, once Walter struck, whether the attack hit or missed, the consequences would be terrifying.

"Don't try to attack me here. Before your fragile body completely collapses, you might not be able to kill me. And if I survive, all you can do is watch my revenge from hell."

With that, Xina turned and walked toward the door, vanishing into the dense darkness. The frost covering every wall and surface of Walter's office vanished with her.

Stepping on stairs condensed from ice, Xina silently returned to her room. Looking at the Life-Sized Puppet lying flat on her bed, she merely flicked a finger and turned it into ashes.

She lifted the pajamas from the bed and gave them a shake, casually draping them over a hanger before flopping onto the bed. "Such a cute face. It really hurts me to destroy it!"

The next morning, due to a summons from Destiny Headquarters, Theresa and the other two branches formulated a Honkai-cleansing operation led by the Far East Branch, with the other two branches assisting.

Its destination happened to be Singapore, the place where the last Honkai Eruption had occurred.

Hearing that name, Xina's face revealed a hint of amusement. Wonderful. It practically feels like going home!

As the military academy of Schicksal's Far East Branch, St. Freya directly canceled classes for the foreseeable future after receiving such a large-scale combat mission.

Because Fu Hua and Himeko, as A-Rank Valkyries, had separate missions, the students in Himeko's class could form teams with people they knew well.

As the class tied for first in both elite strength and overall strength across the school, their class had few students, but naturally guaranteed individual combat ability.

Looking around, B-Ranks that were few and far between in other classes were everywhere here.

Even Xina, a transfer student, was a B+ elite earmarked for promotion to A-Rank Valkyrie.

Kiana had originally wanted to be captain herself, and had even voted for herself.

But... during the vote, Bronya cast one vote to reject Kiana's unrealistic fantasy.

Just like that, the two of them began bickering at the doorway, each refusing to yield to the other.

In the end, Xina stepped in as a mediator and suggested that both sides take a step back and let Mei serve as captain.

You ask why Xina did not become captain herself?

Because she was the captain of another team!

Long before Himeko and Fu Hua followed Theresa to attend the senior Valkyrie meeting, Xina's mission had already been decided:

I'll give you two bodyguards and an experimental high-powered Sniper Rifle. Just find a high point, set up the Large Sniper Rifle, and cover the other teams as they advance step by step.

So, this mission isn't difficult for an Ace Sniper like you, right?